Structure and Variation of the Mandibular Foramen
- The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the mandible's ramus.
- It allows for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through.
- The rim of the mandibular foramen can have two distinct anatomies: V-shaped with a groove or horizontally oriented and oval in shape without a groove.
- Rarely, a second mandibular foramen may be present due to a bifid inferior alveolar nerve.
- A doubled mandibular canal on a radiograph can indicate the presence of a second mandibular foramen.
Function of the Mandibular Foramen
- The mandibular nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve, enters through the mandibular foramen and provides motor innervation.
- The inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, travels through the mandibular canal.
- The inferior alveolar nerve exits at the mental foramen and becomes the mental nerve.
- The mandibular nerve provides sensory innervation to the lower teeth, lower lip, and some skin on the lower face.
- The mandibular foramen serves as the entry point for the mandibular nerve and blood vessels into the mandible.
Clinical Significance of the Mandibular Foramen
- Local anesthesia can be injected around the mandibular foramen to numb the mandibular nerve.
- Anesthetic around the mandibular foramen can numb the lower teeth and some skin on the lower face.
- The mandibular foramen is important for dental anesthesia and pain management.
- Anesthetic techniques involving the mandibular foramen are commonly used in veterinary medicine.
- Proper identification and understanding of the mandibular foramen are crucial for successful dental restraint and anesthesia.
Mandibular Foramen in Other Animals
- The mandibular foramen is also found in other mammals, such as horses.
- Its structure and function in other animals are similar to that in humans.
- The mandibular foramen plays a role in sensory innervation of the lower teeth and surrounding areas in other mammals.
- Comparative studies of the mandibular foramen in different animal species provide insights into its evolutionary significance.
- The presence and characteristics of the mandibular foramen can vary across different animal species.
Additional Facts about the Mandibular Foramen
- The rim of the mandibular foramen can have two distinct anatomies: V-shaped with a groove or horizontally oriented and oval in shape without a groove.
- The presence of a second mandibular foramen can be detected by noting a doubled mandibular canal on a radiograph.
- The common form of the mandibular foramen has a V-shaped rim with a groove.
- The horizontal-oval form of the mandibular foramen has a horizontally oriented and oval-shaped rim without a groove.
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2015) |
The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus of the mandible. It allows for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through.
| Mandibular foramen | |
|---|---|
 The mandibular foramen sits in the ramus of the mandible | |
 Mandible viewed from the inner side of the mandible, showing the mandibular foramen at left. | |
| Details | |
| Part of | mandible |
| System | skeletal |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen mandibulae |
| TA98 | A02.1.15.028 |
| TA2 | 865 |
| FMA | 53172 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
